Legislation

NEMA Backs Energy Savings and Competitiveness Act

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) congratulated U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) on their introduction of the “Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2011.” The bill addresses consensus efficiency standards for appliances and promotes the use of advanced metering infrastructure in federal buildings, among other provisions. According to Evan Gaddis, president and CEO of NEMA, the bill's focus on industrial competitiveness makes this legislation “uniquely important.”

“The Shaheen-Portman legislation targets market barriers to greater investment in industrial energy efficiency,” said Gaddis. “It will encourage domestic industrial facilities to make energy-saving investments here in the U.S., which will improve their global competitiveness, support U.S. jobs, and increase our energy security, instead of allowing these investments to be made overseas.”

The bill would establish a revolving loan fund for projects such as industrial automation installations. It would also establish an initiative to increase adoption of efficiency-improvement technologies and assess underutilized technologies, and it would establish a “Supply Star” program to recognize companies with highly efficient supply chains.

Smart Grid Group backs e-KNOW bill

The Demand Response and Smart Grid Coalition (DRSG) applauded the introduction of new legislation in the U.S. Senate that would empower electricity consumers to better manage their energy use and reduce their energy bills. Sponsored by Senator Mark Udall (D-CO) and co-sponsored by Scott Brown (R-MA), the Electric Consumer Right to Know Act (S 1029) — or “e-KNOW” — would establish the right for electricity consumers to more easily access their electric power usage information and to benefit directly from the new information generated by the smart grid.

The e-Know bill would give consumers access to their energy usage data and the right to authorize access to their usage data through energy-management systems and outside services.